Baby left in hot vehicle dies in Utah

Aug. 1, 2014
|

Life Flight and other medical crews prepare to transport an 11-month-old child who was found in a vehicle near Hurricane Middle School in Utah on Friday, Aug. 1, 2014. / Chris Caldwell, The (St. George, Utah) Spectrum

by Casie Forbes, The (St. George, Utah) Spectrum

by Casie Forbes, The (St. George, Utah) Spectrum

Hurricane City Police Sgt. Brandon Buell said detectives talked to several people and determined the girl was left in her car seat "for a substantial period of time with the vehicle not running" and that the situation involved a family member.

"The Medical Examiner's Office will be conducting an autopsy to determine the cause of death," Buell said in a written statement. "This is still an active and ongoing investigation."

No arrests had been made as of Friday evening.

Several Hurricane City Police officers rushed to the child's aid after she was located at approximately 1:07 p.m.

"Upon arrival, they found the infant was not breathing and CPR was being performed," Buell said. "Paramedics arrived on scene and tended to the infant."

A Life Flight helicopter was launched shortly after from Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George.

Officers met members of the Life Flight crew at Hurricane Middle School where the child was taken by air back to Dixie Regional in "extreme critical condition," Buell said.

She died a short time later.

"This incident is very tragic and our hearts go out to those involved, especially the family," Buell said.

When the infant was found, the outside temperature in the area was approximately 93 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

Dr. Faraz Norozian, a pediatric critical care physician at Sunrise Children's Hospital in Las Vegas, said children are at higher risk of dying after being left in a vehicle because "children have a greater surface area to body mass ratio than adults."